Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 3:11

11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him ? And one of the king of Israels servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah .

This he should have asked before, when they first undertook the expedition, as he did in a like case, 1 King. 22. 5. and for that neglect he now suffers: but better late than never: his afflicton brings him to the remembrance of his former sin, and present duty.

i. e. Who was his Servant: this being one office of a Servant: and this office was the more necessary among the Israelites, because of the frequent washings which their Law required.